Malawi National Men’s Football Team head coach Kalisto Pasuwa faces a stein test in the quest to qualify the country for its first ever African Nations Championship (Chan).
The Zimbabwean who has so far impressed since taking charge of the side will need to have his team at its best in the final qualifying phase of the 2024 Chan which is a competition for home based players only.
Malawi will face-off against South Africa for a spot for a place at the biennial tournament which will be jointly hosted by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda in August 2025.
The Flames eased past the Comoros in the first round of the Chan play-offs by winning 2-0 on Saturday at the Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe to complete a double and with it a 4-0 aggregate victory.
A match-up with South Africa was confirmed 24 hours later when Bafana Bafana shocked Egypt 3-1 in Ismailia to advance to the final qualifying phase 4-2 on aggregate after a 1-1 first-leg draw.
Pasuwa has been touted after turning around The Flames fortunes since taking over on temporary basis in November before being confirmed on his potion three months later.
He has led Malawi in four games with no defeat and without conceding. Under the Zimbabwean tactician, the Flames drew 0-0 with Burundi and beat Burkina Faso 3-0 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November last year.
Victories over Comoros in two legs with 2-0 margins for either match means Pasuwa has yet to concede a goal in four straight games.
But now the Flames big test comes as they will host Bafana Bafana at the Bingu National Stadium on 2nd or 3rd May with the return leg on 10th or 11th May in South Africa.
Pasuwa is unmoved and said as a coach one expects tough opposition as and what is required is to make tactical adjustments.
“We knew before the game started that we were going to play one of the African football giants, so we are not even surprised. Remember, to be the best, we have to compete against the best.
“We will definitely come up with something different in the next round because the games are different. It may be a change in the system, formation, or personnel. The game in South Africa will be different from the one here in Malawi, so we will consider changes definitely,” said a confident Pasuwa.
Malawi has won two of their last 15 matches against South Africa, suffering 11 defeats while one game ended in a draw.
Malawi and South Africa last met in the 2023 regional COSAFA Senior Championship. The match ended 0-0 in regulation time with Bafana Bafana winning 5-3 on penalties.
So, as a place at Chan 2024 beckons, Pasuwa knows that his men must either “step up or step out”. But realizing that the tournament will take place closer to home where fans would even travel by road to cheer the team, The Flames will go into the two-legged tie against Bafana Bafana with new zeal and vigor.
